The Nissan Qashqai, a compact crossover SUV, has been rated as Britain’s most secure automobile after scoring the highest in Euro NCAP crash exams. The vehicle attained a document-breaking complete of 37 points, nearly 100 percent, in the most current spherical of Euro NCAP crash test assessments.
The Qashqai garnered 5-star scores in the front, facet and pole effect assessments. It also obtained four stars for child occupant defense and two in the pedestrian test.
The crossover SUV, the initially to be styled by the Nissan Style Europe in London, England, United kingdom, with engineering improvement led by the Nissan Complex Centre Europe in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, was produced in Europe and Japan early this 12 months. It will be exported to the Center East and more abroad markets.
The leading fifty percent of Qashqai capabilities the placing Nissan headlight, a sleek dynamic shape with a outstanding shoulder line which rises at the rear and that is a design cue identical to that of the Murano. The decreased portion of the car resembles a SUV due to gigantic, pronounced wheel arches and a faintly elevated floor clearance. The car or truck is also specified 4 motor options. Gasoline engines will be a 115 horsepower 1.6 L and a 140 horsepower 2. L. Diesel engines include the 106 horsepower 1.5 L and 150 horsepower 2. L.
To bolster Qashqai’s enchantment, Nissan is to incorporate a long-wheelbase seven-seat model. “We are hunting at a couple items with the Qashqai, but the lengthy-wheelbase auto is the most probable to make generation,” reported Nissan’s spokesperson. The larger design will be designed to rival the compact MPV class, tempting purchasers out of even bigger 7-seat competitors.
The vehicle will be sharing the P32L automobile system with approaching Nissan crossover SUVs. The Qashqai, released at the 2006 Paris Motor Clearly show, is created at Nissan’s NMUK Sunderland plant. “It really is arguably the most interesting spouse and children motor vehicle that is been created, engineered and developed in the British isles in latest yrs,” extra the spokesperson.
Nissan intends to roll out 500 Qashqais off its Wearside production line each and every day and has major ambitions to market 15,000 examples in the Uk following 12 months. The spokesman additional that extra cars will be exported to nations as considerably absent as Japan. The third major Japanese automaker also aims to market additional than 100,000 Qashqai models a yr from February 2007.
Nissan said that the car or truck, named following the nomadic Qashqai tribe, will cater for these car or truck customers who want a additional dynamic design and style but are not captivated to the massive, aggressive nature of a activity utility auto. The car slots underneath the X-Path in the automaker’s assortment. It partly replaces the common Almera and Primera. In conditions of dimensions, its 4310 mm size and 1610 mm makes it fall concerning compact MPVs, this kind of as the SEAT Altea and Renault Scénic, and compact SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and the Mitsubishi Outlander.
But the Qashqai is not the only product that the Japanese automaker is making ready to start. Auto Specific stated that the earlier-generation flat-bed Navara is heading to be re-released next year as some consumers do not consider the existing device appears rugged adequate. Even so, with the far more luxurious Pathfinder-style Navara now working with the acquainted badge, the resurrected Nissan will need a new title. This prediction has however to be made the decision, but could be as clear-cut as pickup.
“Building a crossover car or truck offers a genuine problem for chassis engineers. A significant centre of gravity has a unfavorable influence on handling. In spite of this, the Qashqai is surprisingly adept in corners,” stated an auto critic. “Merge this with the slick 6-pace gearbox and light but perfectly positioned pedals, and the Qashqai is a extremely person-friendly machine.”
